IllustrationWHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. *JB MADE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT CONSUMER 10/16/07, NO ANSWER *LJ RETURN USPS, MADE 2ND ATTEMPT 07/16/07 FAILED. *BF
1997 Toyota Camry
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 131 of 555 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
79 crash reports27 fire reports50 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
26 reportsDRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BEATS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY.
THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS BROKEN. THE SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. THIS OF COURSE POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO PASSENGERS IN THIS SEAT. IT ALSO PRESENTS A LEGAL ISSUE BECAUSE A CHILD IS NORMALLY SEATED THERE WHO NOW CANNOT OPERATE THIS SEAT BELT. CONTACT WAS MADE ON 8/28/02 WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS …
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THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS BROKEN. THE SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. THIS OF COURSE POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO PASSENGERS IN THIS SEAT. IT ALSO PRESENTS A LEGAL ISSUE BECAUSE A CHILD IS NORMALLY SEATED THERE WHO NOW CANNOT OPERATE THIS SEAT BELT. CONTACT WAS MADE ON 8/28/02 WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED . THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SEAT BELT AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK
THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT FROZE AND WILL NOT RETRACT OR RELEASE ADDITIONAL LENGTH. THREE TO FOUR MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS RETRACTING AND RELEASING. IT WILL PROBABLY FAIL COMPLETELY TOO, SOON. REPORTED TO DEALER WHO STATED IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. REPORTED TO M…
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THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT FROZE AND WILL NOT RETRACT OR RELEASE ADDITIONAL LENGTH. THREE TO FOUR MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS RETRACTING AND RELEASING. IT WILL PROBABLY FAIL COMPLETELY TOO, SOON. REPORTED TO DEALER WHO STATED IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA) WHO STATED THAT THE 5YEAR /60000 MILE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED FOR THIS COMPONENT. OPENED UP COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA WHO ADVISED US TO HAVE IT FIXED AND SEND THEM A COPY OF THE BILL. THE SUPERVISOR STATED THEY WILL "LOOK INTO IT, BUT CAN'T MAKE ANY GUARANTEES". WHEN QUESTIONED THEY ADMITTED THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS A PRIMARY SAFETY COMPONENT IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN SAFETY DEFECT.*AK
SEAT BELTS IN REAR SEATS FELL FALL APART WHEN BRAKING, CONSUMER'S GRAND CHILD FELL FORWARD. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *JB
SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. DRIVERS SEATBELT WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND IS NOW A PROBLEM AGAIN. ESTIMATED COSTS IS $108 FOR NEW RETRACTOR AND $80 LABOR. *AK
I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY ORDERED A LEFT-SIDE BACK SEAT BELT RATHER THAN THE CENTER BELT. THEY RE-ORDERED AND TOLD ME THE BELT SHOULD BE IN TODAY (9/13/00). I CALLED TODAY AND AM NOW TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT BE HERE UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. I ASKED IF IT WAS COMING FROM JAPAN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT PROBABL…
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I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY ORDERED A LEFT-SIDE BACK SEAT BELT RATHER THAN THE CENTER BELT. THEY RE-ORDERED AND TOLD ME THE BELT SHOULD BE IN TODAY (9/13/00). I CALLED TODAY AND AM NOW TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT BE HERE UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. I ASKED IF IT WAS COMING FROM JAPAN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT PROBABLY WAS. THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFEFY ISSUE AS I HAVE THREE CHILDREN - AGES 4, 9 & 10. ALL ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE FRONT SEAT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT.*AK
THIS IS MAINLY AN INQUIRY REGARDING A FAILURE IN A SEATBELT THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AS IT IS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM, WE ASSUMED IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY FOR MUCH LONGER. THE REAR SEATBELTS ARE RARELY USED. THE CAR WAS REAR EN…
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THIS IS MAINLY AN INQUIRY REGARDING A FAILURE IN A SEATBELT THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AS IT IS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM, WE ASSUMED IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY FOR MUCH LONGER. THE REAR SEATBELTS ARE RARELY USED. THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED BY AN SUV LAST YEAR BUT IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS IT WAS USED A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. *AK
MOTORIZED REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
399V307000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Nov 1, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.
97V213000 · Electrical System:ignition
Nov 20, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A POSSIBLE JAMMING OF THE LOCK PIN OF THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER SUCH A CONDITION, SHOULD A DRIVER FAIL TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO "PARK" POSITION AND ALSO FAIL TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID.
97V156000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
Sep 17, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE02079 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ODI'S DATA ANALYSIS FOUND THE FIRES RATES TO BE CONSISTENTLY LOW AND EVENLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG SIX MODEL YEARS AND SIX DIFFERENT ENGINE CONFIGURATIONS.ODI EXAMINED A VARIETY OF ROOT CAUSES, THOSE BEING DETONATION (RESULTING IN OIL PAN PUNCTURE FROM CONNECTING ROD), STARTER FIRES, VARIOUS FUEL RELATED FIRES, LEAKING OIL FILTERS, WIRING ISSUES, IMPROPER REPAIRS AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKS.NONE OF THE ISSUES EXAMINED HAD REPORTS THAT INDICATED A TREND WHEN NORMALIZED FOR POPULATON AND EXPOSURE.SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR FULL DETAILS.
DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
PE97034 · Ignition Interlock Failure
Opened Jul 16, 1997 · Closed Nov 28, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
No summary supplied.